Election 2014: GOP Candidate Switches To Lieutenant Governor’s Race

Election 2014: GOP Candidate Switches To Lieutenant Governor’s Race

Rob Moritz • Arkansas News Bureau / State Rep. Debra Hobbs, R-Rogers, announces at the state Capital on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, that she will drop out of the governor’s race and enter the lieutenant governor’s race.

LITTLE ROCK — State Rep. Debra Hobbs, R-Rogers, said Wednesday she is no longer running for governor and is now a candidate for lieutenant governor.

During a news conference at the state Capitol, Hobbs told a small group of reporters her goals of improving economic prosperity, government accountability and college and career readiness among students could be better served as lieutenant governor.

“The office of lieutenant governor has frequently been cited as a ‘do nothing’ position,” she said. “The person elected to the office can, however, make it into a meaningful job by following the example of Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller, who used the position to advocate for economic development, education and literacy.”

Rockefeller, 57, served as lieutenant governor from 1996 to 2006 when he died from a blood disorder.

Hobbs, who raised just $840 during the fourth quarter of 2014 and had $36,354 in her campaign coffers at the end of the year, said she thought her fundraising would increase because she was not running for lieutenant governor. She said many people told her they couldn’t contribute to her gubernatorial campaign because they were already supporting another candidate.

Two other Republicans, Rep. Andy Mayberry, R-Woodson, and Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, have already announced for lieutenant governor. Little Rock businessman John Burkhalter is the only Democrat in the race.

U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Little Rock, who announced last year he would not seek re-election to Congress, said last week he is considering running for lieutenant governor.

Former Lt. Gov. Mark Darr, a Republican from Springdale, resigned Feb. 1 in the face of possible impeachment over his misuse of campaign funds and taxpayer money.